EthanCainePoker.com

Don’t Wait For The Miracle Card

I was playing tired tonight and as a result I slipped up a number of times.  Did this a couple times and it cost me 2/3′s of my buy in.  Was VERY VERY close to a strait and didn’t want to let go so I kept calling the guys bets.

Don't Wait For Miracle Cards

Long story short I gave up before the river because it just wasn’t worth the risk.  At least I stopped from losing my ENTIRE buyin tonight.

-Ethan Caine

Daily Update…Back into the Rhythm

Just a quick update.  I played for 30 mins after reading a couple chapters of Zen & the Art of Poker.  I read the chapters on hesitation which were very interesting.

Basically the point of it is to take the same amount of time looking at your cards and generally acting in the same time frame each time.  The only reason you should deviate from this is too indicate misinformation.

Did quite well financially as I almost tripled my buy in.  The point of course is not to focus on the money but rather to focus on playing well.  Which is what I have been doing.

Feeling good about playing poker again and I will continue to play at least 30mins a day.

-Ethan Caine
Follow Me On Twitter @RealEthanCaine

Zen & the Art Of Poker Lesson I Learned Today

I just finished the calmness & rhythm section in Zen & the Art of Poker.  Excellent section that talks alot about not trying to bully the table or alternatively be a rock.  Its about taking the middle road because thats what works.  Sure bullying SOMETIMES works and being a rock SOMETIMES works but the middle way works most if not all the time.

“Advance with bayonet; if you encounter mush, proceed; if you encounter steel, fall back.”

-Zen & Art Of Poker

Tonight I was playing and I encountered “steel” so too speak and I did not back down. As a result I lost the entire pot:

Should Have Withdrawn

The guy was betting small through out the hand and I of course overvalued Top Pair. That last bet I should have folded.

Hopefully I will know for next time.

-Ethan Caine
Follow Me On Twitter @RealEthanCaine

Poker Update – Naturalism

Played 30mins or so of Rush Poker 2cent/5cent.  Also read about 30 mins of Zen & the Art Of Poker.  The chapter on SAMSARA or the cycle of self frustrating effort.  Basically the point of the chapter was to simply take the ordinary natural way with complete emotional detachment.  I had an opportunity to practice this for the following hand:

Flopped a SET of 8s.  Rainbow flop.  The guy with pocket As bet heavy.  I was short stacked so I went all in.  Long story short he got runner runner clubs to give him an A high flush.  Clearly a hand I statistically should have won.

I was annoyed because I lost my buy in but then emotionally detached myself and kept playing properly.  Soon after I won almost all of the money I had lost back.

All of the inner game poker books stress its not what cards you have or what your opponents are doing that causes you to win or lose.  It is your attitude and state of mind.

So far this is proving true.

-Ethan Caine
Follow Me On Twitter @RealEthanCaine

Played Poker For The First Time In 3 Months

Well its 3 months later and obviously the whole be a pro poker player by June 1st thing has sort of failed. However I’m glad I took that break as I needed it.

Today I played for about an hour on RUSH POKER 2cent/5cent table.  I really enjoyed it and even made a dollar.

The reason for my return is that I am re-reading Zen & the Art Of Poker again and I decided to practice a few of the principles taught within.

1st:  Detachment and Egoless state while playing
2nd:  Don’t get fancy, start tight but more importantly STAY tight.

I will focus on these 2 simple but powerful principles for the next little while and see where it takes me.

-Ethan Caine